Wheeled scraper



G. c. KEOWN WHEELED SCRAPER May 5, 1931;

Filed Nov. 4, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l MW 5% KW y 1931. G. c. KEOWN 1,803,971

WHEELEUSCRAPER Filed Nov. 4, 1926 2 sheets-sheet 2 wmm 1 if A 1 1.5 pletely over during the dumping opera-'.

tion, and while passingfrom dumping to Patented li/Iay 5, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE 0. Known, or RAPID \OI'IY, SOUTH DAKOTA, ASSIGNOR 'ro WESTERN WHEELED SGRAPER COMPANY, or AURORA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION oRIL-LmoIs WHEELED SCRAPER I Application filed November The present invention relates to improvements in wheeled scrapers of the type employing a load carrying bucketwhich is pivotally supported so that it may turn com-' loading position, and further characterized by a manually shiftable swinging apron which serves as a scraping or digging edge for the bucket when it is in loading position, also as anextension thereof during transportation of the load, and as means for controlling the position of the bucket for transportation, loading and dumping purposes.

The principal object of the invention pertains to improvements whereby the downward inclination or rotation of the bucket incldent to loading or-dumping is secured in a more'satisfactory' and reliable manner, and

by a simpler construction of mechanism than has'been heretofore found in machines .of this type. More specifically, according to this feature of the invention, the bucket is pivoted eccentricall with respect to its center of gravity and t e center of gravity of its load viz. on an axis disposed back of the longitudinal center line of. the bucket, so that the normaLtendency of the forward or loading edge of the bucket is to ti downwardly. As will hereinafter appear, t is greatly simplifies the operation of tipping the bucket into its load receiving and load dumping positions. j

Another feature of the invention pertains to improved means for positively tipping the bucket into its load receivin and load dumping positions, in the event that because of an unusual distribution of the load, or other reason, the bucket should fail to move to these positions under the action of'gravity. This latter feature is desirable,-although the gravitational tipping of the bucket is adequate to description of a preferred embodiment of the 'lIIVBDtIOII.

4, 1926. Serial No. 146,120.

In the drawings illustrating this embodi- Inent:

F gure 1 is a plan view of the scraper.

F g. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Flg. 3 1s a fragmentary side view on a larger scale, corresponding to asection just inside oneof the side members of the frame.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through one ,of the combined bearing supports on which the bucket and side wheels are journaled, and

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on the plane of the line 55 of Fig. 2.

The frame of the vehicle .is substantially rectangular in outline comprising two side channel members 8 connected by front and rear channel members 9 and 11. The side channel members 8 extend rearwardly beyond the rear cross member 11 to support a platform 12 on which the operator stands during the operation of the machine. An upwardly to the underside of an arched channel 15 extending between the side members of the frame. The tongue is also secured to the front cross member 9 of the frame by bolts 16. For animal draft, this tongue will extend forwardly a considerable distance and the usual neck yoke anddoubletree will be associated therewith for hitching the team. to the scraper. For a tractor hitch, this tongue is relatively short and has secured to its underside by U bolts 17 a tubular guide. 18. A rod 19 slides freely in this tubular guide, and at its front end is formed with a clevis which is. pivoted to a vertical draft pin 21, as indicated at 22. This draft pin extends through the tuting a hitch block 23 adapted to be coupled to the tractor.- A clevis 24 is swiveled on this draft pin 21, and extending rearwardly from this clevis are two diagonal draft chains 25..

spaced ends of upper and lower plates consti- The draft pull occurs through these latter chains, the steering of the vehicle being accomplished through the telescopic members 1819 connecting the hitch block 23 with the tongue 14. The rear nds of the chains 25 connect between the split halves of clamping members 26 which engage over the ends of a:

transversely extending draft beam 27. From this beam the draft pull is transmitted to the vehicle by links 28 which are pivotally connected at their forward ends between the split halves of the clamping members 26, and which are connected at their rear ends to the apron 29 of the machine. As shown in Figure 1, diagonally extending struts 31 may extend between the forward cross member 9 of the frame and the tongue 14 for bracing the latter. The load receiving bucket or pan'is designated 32 in its entirety, this bucket being pivotally supported between the side members 8 of the frame on a transversely extend ing pivotal axis 33. The two side wheels 34, which support the ,vehicle, also have pivotal mounting on this same axis 33, being disposed between the-side walls of the bu'cket and the side members 8 of the frame. As best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the bucket comprises a flat bottom wall 35, a curved back wall 36 extending longitudinally of the bucket, and two curved side walls 37. The side or endwalls 37 have straight lower edges terminating sub stantially coincident with the bottom wall 35 the adjoining edges of the bottom wall and of the side walls being joined by angle bars 38, riveted to these adjoining edges. The

curved back walls 36 is joined to the side walls 7 I 37 by arcuate angle bars 39 disposed'within the bucket and riveted to the adjoining edges of the back and side walls. These arcuate angle bars 39 extend around aconsiderable part of the curved upper perimeters ofthese side walls, being riveted thereto at intervals and forming tread surfaces on which the bucket can roll when in an inverted position after a dumping operation. The upper edge of the back wall 36 is reinforced by a section of angle bar 41 which laps over the edge of the back wall, such angle bar protec ing this edge against striking obstructions etc. in the dumping rotation of the bucket.

It is desirable that the scraper cut a swath i wider than the outer tread width of the wheels 34, so that the wheels will travel on the smooth surface left by the cut, and also so into the bucket. This widened front end extends beyond the width of the wheels 34, as shown in Figure 1. The bottom plate 35 of the bucket is flared outwardly and the adj a cent edges of the side plates '37 are also flared outwardly, as indicated at 43, in forming this widened portion. It will be observed from Fig. 3 that the arcuate angle bars 39 which reinforce theuppcr marginal edges of the side plates 37 terminate a considerable distance above the bottom wall adjacent the front of the bucket, so as to leave arelatively high,

unobstructed openin through which the dirt is pushed back intotlie bucket.

The laterally flaredportions 43 of the bucket side walls are reinforced at their outer extremities by being riveted to the front ends of plates 45 which are spaced from the side or end walls of the bucket and which extend rearwardly across the ends of the same. These outer plates 45 are disposed on the outer sides of the wheels 34, and lie just inside of the side channels 8 of the frame. The lower edge of each plate45 extends substantiah riveted or otherwise secured to the rear ends.

of the side plates 45, as indicated at 46. Thus, the two side plates 45 constitute unitary parts of the bucket functioning as laterally spaced bracin in its umping motion.

Referring now to the bearing support of the bucket, and of the two wheels 34,-it will be observed from Fig.4 that a bearing block 47 is'bolted to the underside of each side channel 8 of the vehicle frame. Rotatably mounted within this hearing block at each members, and rotate with the bucket side of the machine is the extending'spindle portion 48 of a bearing member 49 carried by the adjacent bracing plate '45. This bearing member comprises a radially extending flange 51 which is secured to the outer side of the outer plate member 45 by bolts 52. The bearing surfaces thus provided by the. bearing member 49 and the spindle portion 48 constitute 'one of,the end bearings around which the bucket revolves. Each supportin wheel 34, which is disposed between the si e wall 37 of the bucket and the spaced outer plate 45 thereof, has spindle support'at its outer end in the bearing member 49, and at its inner end in a enerally similar bearing member 53 which is carried b the side wall 37 of the bucket. This latter caring member has a radial flange 54 which is bolted to the in-.

ner side of the bucket wall 37, and has a recessed bearing extension 55 for receiving the inner end ofthe wheel spindle. Each wheel is of any suitable type, preferably of metallic 56, the ends of which are received within circonstruction however, and has a tubular hub cular flan es 57 and 58 projecting inwardly from the caring members 49 and 53. The

' the shouldered portions of the tie-bolt for wheel s indle consists of a removable. sleeve this spindle extends into a recess formed in the inner face of the outer bearing member' 49, where it has journal support in abushing 62 keyed or otherwise removably secured within the bearing member 49. The projecting inner end of the wheel spindle 59 extends into the recessed bearing extension of the inner bearing 53, where it has journal support .in a similar bushing 63, also removably secured within this bearing. A tie-bolt 64 extends axially through the tubular spindle 59, andhas reduced threaded ends which extend through axial openings in partitions 49 53 in the bearing members49 and 53 and receive nuts 65' which enable the bearing members to be drawn inwardly against rigidly clamping the bearing members at a predetermined spacing. The ends of the tubular spindle 59 are spaced slightly from the end walls of the bearing recesses so that this action f drawing the two bearing members toward each other through the tie-bolt 6 cannot bind the spindle. Lubricant can be supplied to the hollow interior of the spindle through a lubricant fitting 66 passing inwardly through the hub 56 and screwing into the spindle. Small lubricant ducts 67 are formed- I in theouter portions of the spindle for conveying this lubricant to the bearing surfaces of the spindle and to the bushings 62 and 63,

where the relative bearing rotation occurs.

Washers 68 may be interposed between the ends of the spindle 59 and the end walls of the bearing recesses. By the provision of the removable spindle 59 and the removable bushings 62 and 63 the bearing surfaces of each wheel can be easily and cheaply renewed in the event of wear.

Referring now to the construction of the apron 29, as bestshown in Fig.3, it will beobserved that this apron comprises. a bottom plate 71 and two side plates 72. The forward edge 71 of the bottom plate serves as the scraping or cutting edge for cutting into the dirt which is loaded into the bucket.

The ends of the bottom plate; are turned upto this apron, and indirectly through it o the outwardly bent ends of clips the frame of the scraper.- The ends of the draft Y links 28, previously described, are

pivoted to the outer sides of the apron side plates 72 on bolts or rivets 74. 1 The outer -of in similar fashion, and the forward ends of these links 76 are threaded at 77 for screwing through adjusting nuts'78 which are pivotally supported at the lower ends of lever arms 79. The pivotal attachment between each nut 78 and its lever arm 79 is by a bolt or some similar releaseable pivot, whereby the adjusting nuts 78 can be released temporarily from the lever arm- 79 for screwing back and forth along the threaded ends 77 of the actuating links for securing different adjustments of the apron 29.

The two levers 79 are keyed to a transversely extending operating shaft 81 which is pivotally supported in bearing brackets 82 bolted to the upper sides. of the side channels 8. Secured to one endof this. operating shaft is a hubmember 83 from which extends a socket 84 wherein is bolted the end of a long operating lever 85 extending back to the rear of the machine in position for convenient tions; the first of these being a scraping or loading position, the second a transporting or hauling position, and the third a dumping position. In the scraping or loading position of the parts, the apron 29 is shifted rearwardly through the raising of the operating lever 85, this operating through the lever arms 79 and links 76v to swing the apron backwa'rdly around its pivotal axis 73. Such backward position of the apron disposes its cutting edge 71 at a relatively low point for making the cut, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The depth of out can be'adjusted through a considerable range by raising or lowering the operating lever 85. During this scraping or cutting operation the load receiving edge 42- of the bucket is reposing on the bottom plate of the ap on in position for receiving the dirt IIIOVI g backwardly across the cutting edge of the apron. After a full load of material has accumulated in the bucket 32, the

operating lever 85 is moved downwardly and e is sli edge 42 of the bucket is bearing down on the top of the transversely extending apron plate 71, it. having been tilted upwardly to this raised position by the upward swinging movement of the apron, which supportsits front edge when it is in loading or in transport position. The apron now serves as a partial end gate for preventing any of the load from shaking out of the front end of the bucket during the transport of the scraper. When it is desired to dump the load the operating lever 85 is released from the clip or hook 86 and is pushed downwardly to a dumping position, such as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and may be hooked under the clip. Previous to this, during the transport condition of the scraper, the load receiving edge 42 of the bucket has been bearing against the bottom plate of the apron in close proximity to the rear edge thereof; hence this downward movement. of the operating lever, by swinging the apron still further upwardly and forwardly, permits the edge 42 of the bucket to drop off the rear edge of the apron. Immediately, this edge of the bucket drops down on to the ground, where. w it catches, and in the continued forward movementof the vehicle, begins to roll over in the manner of a wheel. The curved peripheral portion of the bucket is of considerably larger diameter than the wheels 34, and hence as soon as the bucket begins this tumbling rotation the wheels 34 will be raised from the ground and thereafter the rolling motion will continue on the periphery of the bucket. The result is a quick dumping of the load through the front end and open top of the bucket. The bucket makes a complete revolution, and is stopped at its transport position by the edge'42 thereof striking the bottom' plate 71 of the apron, the latter having been returned to its transport position during the tumbling rotation of the bucket. With both parts in this transport position, and the weight of the vehicle again carried on the wheels 34, the scraper is returned tothe excavating point where the previously described loading operation is again repeated.

Particular attention is now directed to the fact that the bucket is not symm'etricallybalanced with reference to its axis of rotation 33; or, otherwise expressed, that the upper curved peripheral surface of the bucketv is not concentric with this pivotal axis, but extends forwardly at the front portion of the bucket, giving the bucket a longitudinal center line disposed eccentrically and forwardly of the pivotal center .33. Hence the bucket is normally unbalanced and its extending forward portion tends to tip downwardly. Moreover, when the bucket" is loaded, a preponderating portion of the load is generally disposed forwardly of the pivotal axis 33, so that the load also assists in tipping the front edge of the bucket downwardly. This construction is of particular advantage for effecting the automatic movement of the bucket into its load receiving and load dumping positions. Obviously, when the apron is swung backwardly anddownwardly into its scraping position, the load receiving edge of theibucket will follow such downward movement of the apron, by virtue of this unbalanced conditionl Similarly, when the apron is tripped off this edge of the bucket for a dumping operation, the bucket will immediately drop downwardly into engagement with the ground. Also, at the completion of the dumping operation, when the wheels 34 again engage the ground and there is no longer rotatable torque eifective on thebucket tending to revolve the same, the

bucket cannot become stalled with the load receiving edge 42 elevated at an upward inclination because the greater weight of this edge of the bucket will result in the bucket continuing its rotation until the edge 42 strikes the apron.

While the foregoing construction of eccentrically pivoted or unbalanced bucket is sufliciently positive-in its tipping action to assure proper tiltin of the bucket under practically all 'condltions of use, nevertheless it may be desirable to supplement the gravitational action of the bucket by positively operating devices which will function to compel tipping of the bucket if it should fail to tip by gravity, or which will temporarily lock' the bucket in a tilted position. One of such devices, embodied in a simplified form, is illustrated in Fig. 3. It comprises a link 88 pivotally connected at 89 to the extending upper end of the apron side plate 72. This link curves downwardly over the top and rear side of the radial attache ing flange 51 of the bearing member 49, which bearing member, it will be recalled, is secured to the spaced outer plate 45. Extending outwardly from this flange 51 is a lug or hook 91 adapted to engage a shoulder 92 formed by a notch formed in the under margin of the link'88, thus providing a ratchet connection between the link and the bucket. The parts are so related that the shoulder 92 will drop down over the hook 91, as the apron is swingm downwardly to loading position.

If the buc et is'not following the apron in swlnglng downwardlyto this loadingposition, the motion of the, link, .acting through its hooked engagement with the lug 91, will compel such downward'movement' of the To prevent any possibility of the link 88 swinging upwardly, and accidentally becoming caught on the upper edge. of .the side channel 8, the lower end of the link is provided with a laterally projecting lug or flange 93 which will strike the lower edge of the channel and prevent this excessive swinging movement of the link.

A duplicate link 88 is preferably provided at the opposite side of the machine for engaging a similar lug 91' mounted on the other bearing member 49. To avoid the necessity of specially formed right and left bearing members having these lugs in their roper positions I preferably form. each earing member with two oppositely facing and oppositely disposed lugs 91 and 91, whereby both bearing members will be duplicates.

In some instances two or more of these scrapers may be connected together in a train, the draft connection between succes-' sive scrapers being established through chains extending back from the-cross beam 27 of the front scraper to the corresponding cross beam of the rear scraper. In order that these chains shall be supported where they extend along the sides of the scraper-I have provided looped eyes 94 which are bolted to the side channels 8 of the frame and mounted on said frame to rock about a trans-' verse axis, an apron pivotally mounted on the frame to swing into and out of operative relation with the front edge of the-bucket, and a link directly connected with the apron and operating to tip the front edge of the bucket downward when the apron ismoved toward leading position.

3. A scraper comprising a frame, a bucket mounted on said frame to rock about a trans-.

verse axis, an apron pivotally mounted on the frame to swing into and out of o erative relation with the-front edge of the hue et, and

a link pivotally connected directly with the apron and having ratchet engagement with link pivotally connected-directly with the upper portion of the apron above the pivotal axis thereof and having a notch in its undersurface, and a lug carried by the bucket adapted to lie in said notch, whereby downward swinging of the apron operates to tilt the front edge of the bucket downward and the bucket is held against tilting in a reverse direction. v

5. A scraper comprising a frame, a bucket mounted on the frame to rock about a traifsverse axis, an apron pivotally mounted on the" frame to swing into and out of position under the front edge of the bucket, and means directly connected with the apron and operative to hold the bucket against tilting in such direction as would cause the front edge there'- of to swing upwardly from said apron.

6. A scraperv comprising a frame,,a bucket mounted on the frame to rock about a transverse axis, an apron pivotally mounted on the frame to swing into and out of position under the front edge of the bucket, and means connected directly with the apron above the pivotal axisthereof and operative 4 I to hold the front edge of the bucket against.-

upward movement away from said apron and to tilt the front edge of the bucket downward.

when the apron is swung downward.

7 A scraper comprising a frame, a bucket mounted on theframeto rock about a transverse axis, an apron pivotally mounted on the frame to swing fore and aft, said apron being arranged to underlie the front edge of the bucket'when the same is in loading and transport position and being movable out of engagement with the bucket to permit dumping thereof, and means pivotally connected with the apron above the pivotal axis thereof and cooperating with the bucket for holding the front edge of said bucket against tilting in a direction upwardly from said apron.

8. A scraper comprising a frame, a bucket mounted on the frame to rock about a transverse axis, an aprgn pivotally mounted on the frame to swing fore and aft, said apron being arranged to underlie the front edge of the bucket when the same is in loading and transport position and being movable out of en'- gagement with the bucket to permit dumping thereof, and means pivotally connected di-" rectly with the upper portion of said apron above the pivotal axis thereof and cooperating edge of the bucket downward when the apron is swung downward.

9. In a wheeled scraper, the combination with a frame and a bucket supported thereby to turn about a transverse axis said bucket having side walls lying within tlle side members of the frame, and supporting wheels disposed between such side walls and the frame, of pivotal mountings connecting the bucket and wheels with the frame comprising inner and outer spaced coaxial bearing members connected with the side portions of the bucket at opposite sides of each wheel, the outer bearing member being journaled upon theframe, tu ular wheel spindles coaxial with and nonrotatably secured to the wheels, the end portions of'said spindles being journaled in said bearing members, and shouldered tie-bolts extending throughsaid wheel spindles and connected with said bearing members.

10. In awheeled scraper, the combination with a frame, a'bucket pivotally supported I portions journaled on the frame, tubular wheel spindles 4 journaled in said bearing members, and shouldered tie-bolts extending through said wheel spindles and connecting said bearing members, and means coacting with said outer bearing member and operable to tilt the bucket to its loadin position.

11. In a wheeled scraper, t ecombination with aframe, a bucket pivotally supported to turn about a transverse axis, said bucket having sidewalls, and side plates spaced apart from said side walls, and wheels disposed between said side plates and side walls, means pivotally connecting the bucket and wheels with the-frame comprising inner and bearing members secured respectively to the l sidewalls and side plates of the, bucket, said outer bearing members .having spindle portions journaled on the frame,tubular wheel spindles journaled in said bearing'members, and shouldered tie-bolts extending through said wheel spindles and connecting said hearing members, lugs carried by saidouter hearing members, and links supported by the "frame and operable'to coact with said lugs a forwardly extending tongue connected with the frame, a guide carried by the tongue, tractor coupling draft means supported by said guide to move longitudinally of the tongue and flexible draft members extending from said draft means and connecting with j the sides of said apron.

14. A. scraper comprising a frame, aibucket pivoted to said frame, an apron pivotally mounted upon said frame to swing into and out of position. with the front edge of said bucket, means connected directly with said apron and actuated by the swinging thereof toward'loadin position to tip the front edge of the bucket down, and means for swinging said apron, said means comprisin shaft mounted upon said frame, a ever operable to rock said shaft, a lever rigidly mounted upon said shaft, a link' adapted to connect said latter lever with said apron whereby by rocking said rock shaft in one direction said bucket will be swung to loadingposition and means adjustably connecting said link with said last mentioned lever so that the position of the apron relative to the lever may be adjusted.

GEORGE 0; Known,

outer bearing members secured respectively I to the side walls and side plates of the bucket,

sald outer bearing members having spindle portions journaled on the frame, tubular wheel spindles journaled in. said bearing members, and shouldered tie-bolts extending through said wheel spindles and connecting said bearing members, lugs carried by said outer bearing members, and links supported by theframe and operable to coact with said v lugs to tilt the bucket to loading position. v

12. In a wheeled scraper, the combination with a frame, a bucket pivotally supported to turn about a transverse axis, said bucket havmg side walls, and side plates spaced apart from said side walls, and wheels disposed betweensaid side plates and sidewalls, means pivotally connecting the bucket and wheels 5 with the frame comprising inner and outer arock 

